The current ESG standards are a single-format, single-standard system that has automated the way in which the investment fund industry does business. The core standards are mature enough to encompass most of the industry's transaction processing requirements. FundSERV, however, has found that many customers now require an increasing amount of customization to support complex product lines and distribution processes.

According to FundSERV's Dominic Ionadi, manager of business analysis, there is an increased focus on product, channel and customer-specific automation. This has led FundSERV to investigate ways in which it can provide customized business-to-business integration to help meet

customer automation demands.

"Customization does not mean we're moving away from standardization," says Ionadi. "We just want to ensure that customers who choose not to support features don't hamper the progress of those who invest the effort and capital necessary to maintain higher levels of automation."

By providing customer-specific solutions, it will eliminate the need for the entire industry to comply with standards maybe only a few customers are requesting. Furthermore, it will enable those companies to obtain customized solutions to automation issues that others in the industry feel should not be part of the ESG standards.

"The 'one size fits all' approach to standardization no longer applies to the majority of customer requirements," says Ionadi. "By adopting an integration platform, FundSERV will modernize its technology infrastructure and meet customer demand for customization and specialized services in a cost-effective manner, while maintaining its high standards for security, data integrity and performance. Enabling customization is the next logical step in FundSERV's evolution as a business-to-business solutions provider."

As part of this customer centric pilot project, FundSERV is utilizing a suite of products from TIBCO that will enable greater flexibility for customers to use multiple formats, layouts and transports in business-to-business integration. For instance, data transmissions will enable XML to XML (different schemas), XML to Fixed Length, and Fixed Length to Fixed Length (different layouts).

FundSERV is also employing TIBCO to optimize and automate its internal business processes, which will improve customer service levels.

"FundSERV has performed a great deal of market research over the past two years investigating automation and customization options," says Amir Jafri, FundSERV's vice president of technology. "I think our due diligence will pay off, as I'm confident TIBCO will be able to deliver the solutions to best serve our needs and the needs of our customers."